Brexit: EU braces for collapse in talks as Theresa May falters

Eddie Kim

Downing Street's hopes of opening Brexit talks on a future trade deal have been given a boost by Denmark, whose finance minister dismissed the EU's wrangling over the UK's divorce bill as "a game" that requires swift political compromise.

BritishPrime MinisterTheresa May delivers her keynote speech to delegates and party members on the last day of the Conservative Party Conference at Manchester Central on October 4, 2017.

The issues now on the table include European Union national rights and the so-called Brexit divorce bill. By approaching these negotiations in a constructive way, we can prove the doomsayers wrong'.

Jensen said the sides "are now on the same page" and "it is rather important we get on to a more close and more speedy process of concluding some of the issues".

She also signaled Britain would pay what it owes to settle financial commitments it has made to the bloc, but without naming a figure.

Existing EU trade deals and preferential arrangements with other countries will be "transitioned" into domestic law through legislation post-Brexit.

The negotiations are all set to restart this week, marking the fifth week of talks in this regard.

I've done a load of deals over the years and when you say something, there has to be real fear on the other side that if they don't play ball you'll carry through with your threat.

As in-fighting consumes the British Government, Europeans have stepped up quiet preparations for a possible collapse of Brexit talks that could see Britain crash out of the EU without a deal 18 months from now.

"The sniping from people like Grant Shapps is ... going to be used by people like Michel Barnier and Juncker to say there's divisions within the government, maybe we can offer them a worse deal or drag things out", Evans told BBC TV.

BritishBrexit secretary David Davies says agreement has been reached with the European Union over pensions for expats - but that the European Union needs to show more flexibility in talks. "We are always here and we are ready", he said.

The fifth round of Brexit talks gets underway in Brussels today with a warning from the British Prime Minster that the ball is in the European Union's court.

The speech comes on the back of her disastrous address at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last week.

And she did not rule out accepting any new regulations imposed by Brussels in the two years after March 2019, even though the United Kingdom would have no say in drawing them up.

"I think she should call a leadership election", Shapps told Radio 5 live. If the European Council has given the green light for talks to move onto the second phase, these will focus on trade relations after Brexit.

According to a pre-briefed statement, May will tell Brussels that the ball is in their court in terms of moving the talks along.

"We are working hard to achieve this and are optimistic about our future as a global, free-trading nation".

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